Most Facebook users have either been hacked themselves or know someone who has.

Usually, it involves a third party cloning an account, then making friend requests. The suspected end game is to use that cloned account to spread malware and scam other Facebook users. Technically, itB次元官网网址檚 not a hack at all - itB次元官网网址檚 a duplication.

What Big Little Lions experienced was an elaborate hack.

Helen Austin of Big Little Lions reached out to the Record with the following submission, detailing the ordeal for use as B次元官网网址渁 cautionary taleB次元官网网址� in hopes that by publishing their misfortune, others will pay heed.

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When scammers purporting to be a renowned singer-turned-podcast host offered the folk-pop duo Big Little Lions a sponsored live-stream opportunity in early March, the band was naturally interested. The message linked to a verified Facebook page, and the named host does, indeed, present a podcast B次元官网网址� it all checked out.

After booking their performance time, the band was told theyB次元官网网址檇 have to configure their Facebook Page to allow a simulcast event so that the performance would be on both the host and Big Little LionsB次元官网网址� page. One of the hostB次元官网网址檚 tech crews video-chatted the band through those configuration changes, adjusting their Meta (FacebookB次元官网网址檚 owner) business profile.

They were told to add an B次元官网网址淥nline EventB次元官网网址� profile to their business profileB次元官网网址檚 administrators. The band now believes that was the step that allowed the fraudsters to gain access.

Within hours neither the band, their label or managers could access the page. Within days, Greek political interference campaigns, disinformation and fake news was being spread from the Big Little Lions page through paid adverts.

Now, over a full month later, Meta has taken down the page, and Austin has been locked out of her personal Facebook account, meaning she canB次元官网网址檛 even log in to check in on family and friends or send and receive business messages through MetaB次元官网网址檚 companion app Messenger.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been really upsetting,B次元官网网址� said Austin. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e cried a lot through frustration and loss of control. We thought weB次元官网网址檇 done our due diligence, but just one extra step, trawling through the comments on the podcasters page, would have shown us it was a scam. ItB次元官网网址檚 so frustrating.B次元官网网址�

A forced break from Facebook may seem like a dream to some, but itB次元官网网址檚 turned into a nightmare for a band that has found it is the platform they get the best engagement and community. Especially as this is in the lead-up to their next album, AMPM, coming out June 9 on Fallen Tree Records.

The album takes the journey through a day but tackles themes of parental cycle breaking, mental health issues and insomnia. Shortly after the scam attack, they released the single Why WonB次元官网网址檛 My Brain Stop, now bitterly tainted with the unrelenting frustration that they fell for the scam.

With no updates from Meta on when, or if, the band will ever get back their Facebook page and the ability to communicate with the over 4,000 followers theyB次元官网网址檇 amassed, the band has made the difficult choice to start a new page, and to try to rebuild the following they had achieved.

B次元官网网址淚 just donB次元官网网址檛 want any other bands to make the same mistake,B次元官网网址� said Austin. B次元官网网址淲hen you think of scams, you think of ransoms or credit card phishing, but the shock of why they were using it B次元官网网址� to spread misinformation through ads on our trusted page B次元官网网址� is so upsetting. Every time I tell someone what happened I feel heart palpitations; itB次元官网网址檚 definitely affecting my everyday life.B次元官网网址�

The bandB次元官网网址檚 new Facebook page is